Warm Home Discount Scheme 2020 to 2021

The government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme will take as much as £140 off your winter electricity bill – if you qualify. This guide explains how to check if you’re entitled to the discount and how to get help with fuel poverty.

In most cases, the money provides a one-off discount on your electricity bill between the cold months of September and March in England, Scotland, and Wales.

But, you can get a discount on your gas bill instead, as long as the energy supplier provides both (e.g. gas and electricity). Your supplier can confirm this if you are not sure.

Note: You would not receive the money as a payment (it goes to the energy supplier). But, getting the discount would not affect your eligibility to claim Cold Weather Payments or the Winter Fuel Payment.

Eligibility for Warm Home Discount Scheme

So, who qualifies for this year’s Warm Home Discount Scheme? In fact, there are two ways to qualify. You must either be:

  • Getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (also called the ‘core group’).
  • On a low income and meet the criteria for the scheme according to your energy supplier (also called the ‘broader group’).

As a result, the method used to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme determines how you need to apply for the discount (see further details below).

If You Use Pre-pay or Pay-as-you-go Meters

Pre-pay, and pay-as-you-go, electricity meters are quite commonplace in many households in the United Kingdom. While this may be true, it would not necessarily stop you getting the £140 discount.

Your electricity supplier can give you further information about how this kind of energy meter might affect your eligibility for the Warm Home Discount. In most cases, they can supply you with a voucher to top it up.

If You Live in a Park Home

The application process differs for people living in park (mobile) homes. Hence, you would need to contact Charis Grants to apply for the scheme.

Charis Grants Ltd
Telephone: 0330 555 9424
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5:30pm (closed bank holidays)
Check mobile and landline call charges

Do You Get the Guarantee Credit Element of Pension Credit?

Being in the ‘core group’ means you would meet the qualification criteria for the energy bill reduction if, on the 5th of July 2020, all these applied:

  • The energy supplier you are using participates in the WHD scheme (check the list below).
  • The bill had your name on it (or that of your partner).
  • You were receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you also get Savings Credit).
Note: The UK Rules (or GOV.UK) website has further information about Pension Credit eligibility and how to claim it.

Providing you qualify, you should get a letter between October and December informing you how to get the discount. The letter will state whether you need to confirm your details. If so, you would need to call a helpline before the end of February 2021.

Following that, the electricity supplier applies the discount to your bill no later than the 31st of March 2021.

What if You Didn’t Get a Letter?

You should only contact the Warm Home Discount helpline if qualify through the ‘core group’ but you did not get the letter.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Warm Home Discount Helpline
Telephone: 0800 731 0214
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm

Warm Home Discount
Blue Zone, Ground Floor Phase 1
Peel Park
Brunel Way
Blackpool
FY4 5ES

Are You Getting a Low Income?

What if you do not get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit? In this case, you might be able to apply directly to your electricity supplier for financial help, providing:

  • The energy supplier you are using participates in the WHD scheme (check the list below).
  • You are on a low income.
  • You get one of the qualifying means-tested benefits.

To get the warm home discount through the ‘broader group’ you would need to stay with the same energy supplier until the bill has been paid.

It would be up to your electricity supplier to decide whether you get the discount – or not. So, you need to check with them for their eligibility criteria and how to make an application.

It is important to check as early as possible because they give out a limited number of discounts. But, if you get accepted they will apply the discount to your energy bill before the end of March 2021.

Energy Suppliers in the Warm Home Discount Scheme

  • Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
  • Angelic Energy – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • Avro Energy
  • Beam Energy – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • Boost
  • Bristol Energy – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • British Gas
  • Bulb Energy
  • Citizen Energy – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
  • E (Gas and Electricity)
  • E.ON
  • Ebico – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • Ecotricity – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • EDF Energy
  • Fosse Energy – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • Great North Energy – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • Green Energy – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • Green Network Energy
  • Green Star Energy
  • iSupply Energy – only if you’re eligible for the ‘core group’
  • London Power – see Octopus Energy
  • Lumo
  • M&S Energy – see Octopus Energy
  • npower
  • nPower Select
  • Octopus Energy
  • OVO
  • Powerhouse
  • Pure Planet
  • Ram Energy – only if you’re eligible for the core group
  • Robin Hood Energy – only if you’re eligible for the core group
  • Sainsbury’s Energy – see npower
  • ScottishPower
  • Shell Energy
  • So Energy
  • Southend Energy – only if you’re eligible for the core group
  • Spark
  • SSE
  • Symbio Energy
  • The LECCY – only if you’re eligible for the core group
  • Tonik Energy
  • Utilita
  • Utility Point – only if you’re eligible for the core group
  • Utility Warehouse
  • White Rose Energy – only if you’re eligible for the core group
  • Your Energy Sussex – only if you’re eligible for the core group